karin

In the Groove

Another edition of The Groove is here, packed with a scrapper profile, great discounts, freebies, challenges and more!

We’re starting things off with a dazzling layout from Scrapbook MAX! community member Aussie Annette above to get you all inspired. Sometimes its tempting – and absolutely just right – to pack your layouts with color. Other times, one color is just as dramatic. It can really make a statement. Thanks, Annette!

Scrapbook MAX! Designer Profile

KapiScrapMeet Sandrine Boarqueiro-Verdun, a Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kit Designer, frequent challenge host, and very helpful member of our Scrapbook MAX! community! Below, you’ll get to know Sandrine a bit better, enjoy a few of her favorite layouts and comments by those who use her kits in their pages. Plus, she’s sharing an AWESOME freebie and challenge with you! Enjoy – and thanks, Sandrine! 🙂

Hello Dear Groove Readers!

Let me introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me yet. My name is Sandrine aka KapiScrap (or KapiColors). I was born the month of October to the last century (LOL) in Versailles, France. I have been living in the South West of France (in the “cassoulet” country) for more than 12 years.

I created my own company in 2000 at this period. I work in the development and testing (quality) software area. Two years ago I created KapiScrap & Art, which focuses on the digital scrapbooking industry. The organization has three main activities: scrapbooking kits design, resale of Scrapbook MAX! on the French market, and training courses. If memory serves, I discovered digital scrapbooking at the end of 2009.

I’m married and I have two adorable kids: 6 and almost 10. They are, of course, my favorite models, but they are also a great source of inspiration. I’m very lucky as the youngest one loves striking poses for the photos and dressing up, leaving me with plenty of photos for different themes.

Many of my kits are kid themed since my kids are my favorite subject to scrap, and also because I like funny stuff, but not solely. During the day I work on very serious and critical topics, so when I design a kit I like getting swept away in funny characters like Mr. & Mrs. Bunnies in Hoppy Easter, my little Reindeer in Reindeer Village, or the friendly penguin in Winter Fun Penguin Style.

Winter Fun Penguin Style

Before starting to draw the items of a kit or creating papers, I think a kit as a *whole*: the style, the pallet, and I list the items. We are two persons designing at KapiScrap, so we also share the tasks as we draw everything from scratch and some items require several hours to be designed; an example is the bat in Witches Brew, or very sophisticated items like the beater in Baking Memories. My colleague (and husband) is a really great designer who has an eye for detail so for the very sophisticated items he is the right person. Some kits like Forever Adorable I & II, Hoppy Easter, Winter Fun Penguin Style though are 100% me, and I always insist that we design everything from scratch, so that means that our kits are unique.

Baking Memories

I have loads of ideas for themes… but I don’t always have enough time to design all the kits. That being said,I have asked some members of my CT to describe my “designer” work as they are the best persons to describe my style, as they work with it regularly. My girls Monkey Musing, Tigroune and Tin Tin had this to say:

“Fun, playful, colorful hand drawn elements that scream out are different from everyone else’s work. You don’t use CU items so your items are unique to only your kits. Plus your kits and templates are well thought out. You have an eye for detail which is why your work is refreshing.”

“Each of your kits has its own exclusive items which are very well designed with any detail. Your kits are always very comprehensive. What I definitively love in your kits is that they are unique, you can’t find your items in any other kits, and the quality of each item allows to print any page for a perfect result”.

Forever Adorable II

“I love that you have a lot of papers and shapes that can really make someone use their imagination, and I love that your kits are bilingual, I think that is one of the features that makes you stand out. Also you are not afraid of colors in your kits. Your templates are real original with the circle shapes…”

Thanks, Sandrine for sharing your designer story and for sharing lovely images and comments on your work! It was great to get to know a bit more about the person behind the beautiful digital scrapbooking kit and template designs!
– The Groove Editors

A couple of Sandrine’s favorite layouts (with her favorite models!):

Forever Adorable Page"Kids" Page

Get a Discount on Featured Scrapbooking Kits

Sweet Summertime

Love this kit and the three kits showcased in Sandrine’s profile above? They are the feature kits in our store all month long, and you can get them for 10% off! All you need to do is add them to your cart, and use the coupon discount code SAB-JUN. Applies only to the kits found in the Featured Content section of our store, new orders only. Offer expires June 30, 2012

Shades of Purple

Sweet Springtime

Another almost-all-purple layout, this one from Scrapbook MAX! member Tigroune. While using one color can make a dramatic statement, it can also convey sweet simplicity and the perfect backdrop for a great photo like this one. Purple-licious!

The beautiful layout above was shared by makeyesup in the Scrapbook MAX! Gallery – stunning!

Meet Scrapbook MAX! Designer Katherine a.k.a. MagicalReality Designs

Magical Reality DesignsI am Katherine aka MagicalReality Designs. I was born in Warsaw, Poland and moved to Canada at the age of 9. I live in Ontario with my hubby, two kids and a beautiful 1.5 years old German Shepherd named Codey. I have been a digital designer since 2007. I am in love with digital graphics, digital painting, and photography. My designs are known for a mix of magical and realistic elements – I guess that is where my designer name comes from. If I am not designing I enjoy doing hands-on crafts with my kids or anything outdoors, but I always have my camera with me! I also just realized that the first scrapbook software I ever bought was Scrapbook MAX!….haha…and never in my dreams did I think I would be selling my designs here. People always ask me how do you come up with the designs ideas? Honestly… I don’t know! I never know what I will create and usually I work on 3 or 4 different designs at once. I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me, and please take advantage of my few favorite kits on sale (see below for details)!

Some of Katherine’s Favourite Designs – Save 10% this month!

Explore Katherine’s designs, and save on a few of her favorites! The four kits below are found in our Featured Content section of the store! You can save 10% off by adding any of these four featured kits to your cart and typing in the coupon code MAY-KAZ at checkout. Offer is valid on new orders only from the Featured Content section – expires May 31, 2012.

Never ForgottenPaint Me BeautifulSea MemoriesSpring Magic Part 4

Spotlight on Challenge Winners

Well, everyone’s a winner just for joining a challenge! But we wanted to put the spotlight on two very special layouts from Deanne Gow-Smith’s recent mid-month challenges that sparkled with creativity!

March Mid-Month Challenge – Winning Layout by Cheesepiece
The Challenge: MAKE/SHAPE YOUR OWN EMBELLISHMENTS and MAKE YOUR OWN “BACKGROUND PAPER

On the Beach

From Donna a.k.a. “Cheesepiece”

“I am delighted, flattered and honoured to be chosen as the winner of Moonbeam’s Mid Month Challenge for March….I love joining in the Challenges, and learn so much from them. They have boosted my confidence greatly, not to mention the friends I have made in the Forum.

I am really pleased with how my LO turned out. I chose the shape first, tried out a few different ways to use it. As I played with the shape the idea for the page popped into my head. I messed around with colour and transparency, I used the same shape four times, inverting it and erasing parts of it. I chose my photo and added text. The butterfly was one shape used twice. I added shadow, duplicated it, re-coloured for the top of the butterfly. The result was very pleasing to me and so easy to create.

For all you ladies out there who have yet to join in a Challenge, I say go for it. You can learn so much and have fun at the same time.”

“Thank you for the challenge Deanne! Everyone did such a beautiful job with the layouts and colors that I had no idea what I was going to create. Then, our two year old decided to jump on my lap and take a nap and gave me my color choice. I had a tough time getting the caramel color to match, but I like how it turned out. ”

A Family Story Goes On…

Last month, Kaye shared some stunning pages inspired by family photos she discovered in her parents’ photo collection. Here is another layout from this collection. Not only are the photos and layouts beautifully arranged, the journalling makes the page a true family keepsake. Get inspired to scrap your family’s story!

In the Groove

Enjoy the April issue of The Groove jam-packed with scrapper profiles, a tutorial, freebies, store discounts, challenge details, the chance to get a custom kit designed just for you…and more!

Top layout by Kaye.

Meet Scrapbook MAX! Designer Amanda Wittenborn

Welcome, Amanda – a new and already super busy designer!- to the Scrapbook MAX! Design Team. Get to know Amanda in the profile she has shared below (and enjoy some freebies that she’s shared, too!).

AmandaMy name is Amanda Wittenborn and I have been designing digital scrapbook kits since January of 2011. I have been crafty and creative my whole life, and knew that “someday” I wanted to design my own papers and elements to meet the needs I had as a scrapper. So I decided to give it a try, and I am hooked! I tend to design kits that go with what is going on in my kids lives at the moment. So you will see a new movie kit coming out from me, since we just took my youngest to see his first movie! Many of my kits are kid themed since my kids are my favorite subject to scrap! I have 2 little boys, age 6 and 2 and a wonderful hubby I have been married to for almost 10 years. Besides designing digital scrapbook kits I also teach private piano lessons.

Some of Amanda’s favorite kits:

Timeless

Timeless Kit – I was actually inspired by the floral patterns in the paper, and put together this amazing color scheme to go with them perfectly. I packed this kit with tons of texture and beautiful floral pieces. It has a vintage/heritage feel to it, I have been told the papers look like vintage wall paper. I just love how this kit blossomed and turned out!

Woodland Winter

Woodland Winter Kit – This is one of my most favorite kits I have made. I just had this fun idea to use woodland animals, but in a winter setting. Think of winter getaways and how quiet it can be during a snowfall, that’s what this kit make me think of.

Thanks for sharing, Amanda! For those of you looking for more creations by Amanda, check out her category in the Scrapbook MAX! Store. PLUS! Find a freebie from Amanda and discount on her featured kits just a little further on in this issue of The Groove!

Scrapbook Tutorial with Carena Scott: Linking Frames

Below is a wonderful tutorial on how to link frames in Scrapbook MAX!, generously shared by creative Scrapbook MAX! Designer Carena Scott. You’re sure to use this useful technique over and over again in your pages!

Hint: To view the steps at a larger size, just click on them – and flip through them by clicking on the “next” arrows that appear when you mouse over the right side of the image.

STEP #1STEP #2STEP #3STEP #4STEP #5STEP #6

For more scrapbook tutorials and freebie kits that are Scrapbook MAX! compatible, check out Carena’s blog.

Heritage Layout Inspiration

Heritage pages are not only beautiful, they tell such a rich story. Get inspired by Scrapbook MAX! community member Kaye’s lovely scrapbook pages (the first one is the layout featured at the top of this issue) and her story below!

From Kaye:

Don’t you agree that there is a certain charm about old black and white, and sepia photos? I look at them and my imagination takes me to all sorts of places, and I wonder what the story behind the picture is.

Letha, another Scrapbook MAX! community member, has showcased lots of beautiful scrap pages using her family’s dated photos here on the forums. It inspired me to go through my parents old photos to see what gems I could find. There were so many! I decided then and there that I was going to restore what I could and make photo books for any of the family that wanted them so that these wonderful old photos could be seen.

April 2012 Featured Kits

Are you loving Amanda’s Groove Challenge Freebie? Looking for kits with her signature style? Here’s a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store! You can save 10% off by adding any of these four featured kits to your cart and typing in the coupon code APR-AMW at checkout. Offer is valid on new orders only from the Featured Content section – expires April 30, 2012.

April 15-31, 2012 – Mid-Month Challenge “From Boring To Beautiful” (Deanne Gow-Smith – approximate start date is the 15th)From Deanne –Participants will get a bland “boring” one-color kit to work with. The goal is to transform it into “beautiful” using JUST ONE additional color. Any embies may be added but 1 color only to be added…

Have Deanne Turn Your Idea Into a Custom Kit!

If you have an idea for a kit that you would like me to consider designing, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] by April 10, 2012 with your request for a specific KIT theme. Add lots of details of what you would like to see in it: colours, type of embellishments, wordart, etc. I will select one of suggestions I receive, and create a custom designed KIT and a TEMPLATE for the winner.

Just for participating and emailing me your request and suggestions, you will receive 1 x FREE KIT valued around $5.00.

Note: THE WINNER of the custom-designed kit is invited to post a layout that they make with this kit in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery. We’d love to feature it and the story behind your request in an upcoming issue of The Groove!

In the Groove

We have lots of exciting things for you in The Groove this month (including some cool “green” layouts to celebrate the month of March)! You’ll find a special spotlight on popular Scrapbook MAX! designer Deanne Gow-Smith! Deanne shares her scrapbooking story, talks about a few of her favorite layouts from Scrapbook MAX! members, and invites you to inspire her next kit design (with free kits just for making a suggestion!) More details are below!

We’ve got the scoop on two exciting and creative month-long challenges, hosted by Sandrine Boarqueiro-Verdun and Carena Scott. And you’ll also find a discount coupon to use in the store!

Scrapper Spotlight: Deanne Gow-Smith

Meet Deanne Gow-Smith, a longtime member of our Scrapbook MAX! Design Team. Below, she shares some of her story, and what she loves about Scrapbook MAX!.

Deanne Gow-Smith

Hello Fellow Scrapbook MAX!-er’s and Groove readers, Let me introduce myself to those of you that don’t yet know me. My name is Deanne Gow-Smith, a.k.a Moonbeam. I’ve been around Scrapbook MAX! so long I’m part of the furniture! 🙂

The day I discovered Digital Scrapbooking 6 years ago literally changed my life. Before I knew it, I became a designer at Scrapbook MAX!, and now that’s what I do! I’m not a computer whiz, but Scrapbook MAX! software is so unbelievably easy to use and yet so great in what it does, I LOVE it! In fact when I recently opened my own Online Scrapbook store I had quite a few requests from other scrapbooking software companies to feature their products on my website. They GAVE me FREE downloads of their software to try, so I could review them and possibly promote them on my site. I did try them and they were very good! BUT – guess what? They didn’t compare at all to my dear “Max” ( my affectionate name for Scrapbook MAX!)

In my opinion, with this incredible program, the online community and support, and the learning challenges, anyone can become a great scrapper. For those who haven’t ever posted their pages in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery yet – c’mon! We’d love to see what you’ve done. From a designer’s point of view, it never ceases to amaze me how with just one kit, 20 people can create 20 different layouts.

Don’t YOU love looking at the Gallery? I get so much inspiration from seeing what everyone does there. Take a look, and don’t forget to post your own work and get in on the fun!

– Deanne

We asked Deanne to share her favorite layouts recently posted in the Scrapbook MAX! Gallery, and what she liked about them!

Cheespiece - Winter Layout

I loved this layout by Cheespiece. Why? I felt cold looking at it! I love the softness, the muted frame and the way there are so many complimenting fonts … and that photo! Now I forget the cold – that face melts hearts.

Kimmyann - Norman

Really – how cute can you get? It appeals to me also because I live on a farm, too – a Beef cattle farm. Hope you’re not going to eat him, Kimmyann!! 🙂

Carena - Vintage Blossom

The photos in Carena’s page match the layout so beautifully. I love the skewed frame at the top – it adds interest. The page has a gorgeous soft background paper with just a couple of touches of flower clusters and a few scatterings of petals – plus plenty of ” whitespace”. A lovely layout!

Have Deanne Turn Your Idea Into a Custom Kit!

Sewing And Quilting Kit

Last month’s ‘Custom Kit’ by Deanne Gow-Smith

From Deanne:

If you have an idea for a kit that you would like me to consider designing, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] by March 10, 2012 with your request for a specific KIT theme. Add lots of details of what you would like to see in it: colours, type of embellishments, wordart, etc. I will select one of suggestions I receive, and create a custom designed KIT and a TEMPLATE for the winner.

Just for participating and emailing me your request and suggestions, you will receive 1 x FREE KIT valued around $5.00.

Note: THE WINNER of the custom-designed kit is invited to post a layout that they make with this kit in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery. We’d love to feature it and the story behind your request in an upcoming issue of The Groove!

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

KapiScrap-Fun-City-Challenge

This month, designer Sandrine Boarqueiro-Verdun is challenging you to use this bright, fun kit and flex your creativity with Ribbon Text, Masks, and more! You’ll be challenged to make not one but TWO layouts! Get involved to learn, have fun, and end up with a pair of incredible pages!

Visit the challenge thread in the Challenge and Contests Forum to find all the details and this colorful freebie kit.

March 2012 Featured Kits

Are you loving Sandrine’s Groove Challenge Freebie? Looking for kits with her signature style? Here’s a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store! You can save 10% off by adding any of these four featured kits to your cart and typing in the coupon code MAR-SAB at checkout. Offer is valid on new orders only from the Featured Content section – expires March 31, 2012.

March 2012 Designer Challenge – Hosted by Carena Scott

Carena - Siggy Challenge

For this month’s designer challenge we are going to make our own ‘forum siggy’! The challenge is to use a heart shape, leaves and flowers plus any other embellishments you desire. Also, you’ll be asked to include a quote of your choice along with your forum name or real name if you wish. Background must be white – so it blends in with the forum.

You can upload a larger version into the challenge gallery to show us just like a layout but to place it into your forum signature like your challenge buttons you will need to size to 300 by 100 pixels maximum or similar so it doesn’t take up too large an area.

More details will be in the forum challenge area. Come and join the fun – brought to you by Carena’s Designs.

– Carena Scott

March 2012 Challenges

There’s always something going on in the Scrapbook MAX! Challenges and Contests Forum! Here’s what to keep your eyes open for:

In the Groove

February is the month of love, romance and sharing love-ly pages with friends! We have a jam-packed issue for you this month with gorgeous layouts, a freebie challenge, the chance to get a custom-made designer kit, and the latest scrapbook news!

Enjoy the “Valentine’s” edition of The Groove, starting with SBM Diane’s gorgeous layout above – recently a “Layout of the Day” featured on our new official Scrapbook MAX! Facebook Page (more details below)!

**NEW**Visit our Scrapbook MAX! Facebook Page

Come visit our brand new Scrapbook MAX! Facebook Page. There are lots of reasons to stop by, including our Tip of the Day, Designer Kit of the Day, and our Featured Layout of the Day selected from our gallery (it just might be yours!). We also keep you up to date with the latest scrapbooking news and kits.

There’s lots of fun already and we’re just getting started – lots more to come! So stop by our page, leave us a comment, tell your friends, “like” us, and get in on the fun!

The Groove Freebie Challenge

Michelle McCoy - Groove Freebie

This month, designer Michelle McCoy is challenging you to make lovely valentine-inspired pages with her adorable freebie mini-kit, and practice your “colorization” skills using the tools in Scrapbook MAX!2.0.

Visit the challenge thread in the Challenge and Contests Forum to find all the details and the cute freebie kit.

February 2012 Featured Kits

Are you loving Michelle McCoy’s Groove Challenge Freebie? Looking for kits with Michelle’s signature style? Here’s a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store (and great for Valentine’s layouts)! You can save 10% off by adding any of these four featured kits to your cart and typing in the coupon code FEB-GROOVE at checkout. Offer is valid on new orders only from the Featured Content section – expires February 29, 2012.

Beary LoveLove MeLove U FuzzyParis Cafe

New Kits Inspired by Scrapbook MAX! Scrapper

Scrapbook MAX! user Linda DuBois shared this wonderful story with us about how a search for a particular kit inspired a Scrapbook MAX! designer’s special creations…

Mount Rushmore

I have the most wonderful experience with Scrapbook MAX! that I would like to share with you. My name is Linda DuBois and I am very, very, new to digital scrapbooking. I am so new that I easily become overwhelmed looking for the right papers and embellishments to create my pages with. I have Photoshop Elements, and can use it, but stumbled across Scrapbook MAX! and immediately purchased it, and thus started my love for Scrapbook MAX! and their kits and templates.

My husband and I are retired, and this past fall, we finally were able to take one of our dream vacations in our motor home. We live in PA and had certain places in the west that we have wanted to visit most of our lives. So, our new adventure began and my desire to scrapbook our adventure became a dream. I wasn’t making much progress with my pages, even with the beautiful kits available for Scrapbook MAX!, and the ability to even use other papers and embellishments from other sources. It just wasn’t coming together.

I asked Scrapbook MAX! designer Deanne Gow-Smith if I could send her pictures of my pages and tell her what I didn’t like.This was the start of a very endearing dialogue between Deanne and I. Before I knew it, Deanne was busy creating three very custom and special kits just for my scrapbooking needs. I do not know how, but Deanne somehow knew exactly the look that I was trying to achieve. Her new kits for Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and Yosemite are absolutely stunning, and are exactly what I wanted for my pages. What a wonderful way to scrapbook. If you need something, these ladies will create it just for you! Thanks Deanne for the wonderful pages, and thank you Deanne and Scrapbook Max for making my job documenting this wonderful trip so easy.

– Linda Dubois

What a great story, Linda! Thank you for sharing it with us, and for sharing your lovely layouts (below). It sounds like you had a true holiday adventure, and a great experience remembering it through your pages!

Yellowstone Hot SpringsYellowstone Cave

Deanne Wants to Design A Theme Based on Your Ideas!

From Deanne Gow-Smith:

I recently had the experience of custom designing three kits for a Scrapbook MAX! Community Member, Linda. Linda had been a a trip to Yosemite, Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore and had photos to make a memorable scrapbook but needed the KITS.

I enjoyed making them so much with all her input for desired elements that I wondered if there are many other scrapbookers who would like a KIT made especially for them with a theme maybe they have been unable to find anywhere. So, I came up with this idea:

If you have an idea for a kit that you would like me to consider designing, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] this month (February 2012) with your request for a specific KIT theme. Add lots of details of what you would like to see in it: colours, type of embellishments, wordart, etc. I will select one of suggestions I receive, and create a custom designed KIT and a TEMPLATE for the winner.

Just for participating and emailing me your request and suggestions, you will receive 1 x FREE KIT valued around $5.00.

Note: THE WINNER of the custom-designed kit is invited to post a layout that they make with this kit in the Scrapbook MAX! gallery. We’d love to feature it and the story behind your request in an upcoming issue of The Groove!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s a great idea (and awesome photo and layout) from lgenosky. Why not make personalized Valentine’s cards with your kids pics right on them? Smaller sizes are the perfect thing to print out and distribute to family, school friends, etc.! Wishes that are truly from the heart!